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Baxter's belter sinks Crawley

Crawley slipped to back-to-back defeats as they lost 1-0 at Sheffield United today.

The Reds were undone by a goal two minutes after the break when Jose Baxter curled in a first time strike from 22 yards after Ben Davies rolled the ball into his path.

Baxter then curled a low shot just beyond an upright and only some desperate defending by the Reds defence prevented Michael Higdon doubling the hosts’ advantage.

But it was not all one-way traffic in an even first half with Crawley’s Gwion Edwards smashing a shot off the bar before Jay McEveley blocked Bobson Bawling’s follow up.

United looked the more likely to add to their lead, though, after their goal and Reds keeper Brian Jensen got down sharply to save from Chris Basham as he tried to steer in a low ball from inside the six-yard box.

And Davies side-footed horribly wide from eight yards in the first minute of added time.

There was still time for McLeod to have a shot blocked seconds from the final whistle after Crawley forced a late corner which fell invitingly to the striker on the edge of the area.

Boss John Gregory admitted: "It was one goal and a superb strike.

"Baxter is prone to doing things like that and it was an excellent goal."

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